For those of you who think Pettigrew is a bit OOC lately – I have decided that he's found new confidence after being given his silver hand. If I could think of a good way of illustrating that without actually describing it, I would, but I can't so I won't. Confused enough?
Hearing footsteps approaching, Hermione pushed Ron abruptly away from her. 'Er, question 24 a?' she improvised. 'I think it was the Venemous Tentacula.'
'Honestly, you two,' said Harry exasperatedly. 'You didn't think to tell us you were – together.'
'We're not together!' said Ron hotly.
'You looked very together just then,' said Andromeda accusingly. 'Why didn't you tell us?'
'Seriously, there is nothing going on,' said Hermione. 'Someone's been sending us both secret admirer notes to set us up to come to the ball together. So we thought we'd better come anyway, because I had to have a partner, as a Prefect.'
'That doesn't explain what you were doing just then.'
'I was helping Ron with his Herbology homework.'
'She was,' put in Ron helpfully.
'I don't know why you feel the need to keep lying,' said Andromeda, hurt. 'I thought you two were our friends.' And she left. Harry shrugged and followed her, glad of an excuse to make himself scarce. He didn't feel too much like listening to Ron and Hermione's excuses any more.
Back in the hall, Ron and Hermione were looking at each other fearfully. 'That was just… we got caught up in the moment,' said Hermione. 'Didn't we?'
Ron nodded. But he didn't feel at all sure.
It was almost light outside the castle. The sky had taken on a clear gold and wisps of a darker rust colour were becoming visible against it – the clouds that would hide the sun during the day. The trees of the Forbidden Forest still looked like mere shadows, though. And inside them was assembled a large crowd.
Death Eaters filled a clearing to its very edges and some had to take shelter between thick tree-trunks where there was not enough space. Their master and his servant had not arrived yet. Suddenly, a whip-like crack split the silence and an excited babble prevailed. A moment later, a tall, unnaturally thin figure appeared in their midst, flanked by a much smaller, hunched, rather pathetic man.
The smaller man had one feature that made him stand out; he wore long, emerald-green gloves that reached all the way up his arms to his shoulders. He wore black robes, but the gloves shone through them as though illuminated; he slid them off to reveal, in place of his right hand, a sparkling, reflective spiderlike thing...
'Put on your masks,' said a familiar high, evil voice. Obediently, and as one, the crowd of men and women around Voldemort donned black hoods with eye-slits. They would not show their faces.
'A faithful follower has told me of a way into the castle,' said Voldemort. 'Severus Snape has risked much to aid me in my conquering of Hogwarts, and today it will finally happen; today, I have left Ralassar and travelled here. Today we will enter the castle.' He paused.
'But before we go in we must make sure it is safe. So I have selected a Death Eater who I deem worthy to go in before we do. Lucius Malfoy, you will be the first Death Eater inside Hogwarts.'
Lucius Malfoy's face turned white beneath his mask, but to his master he showed no fear. 'I will, my lord,' he said in a low voice. 'When do you wish me to go in?'
'As soon as you wish,' said Voldemort, a vicious smile playing across his lips. He described the way in, then said, 'We await your return with news of the entrance's safety.' And Lucius Malfoy, visibly trembling with apprehensive fear, set off in the false twilight.
Harry and Ron sat up at exactly the same moment. They and the other Gryffindors had been awoken by an enormous crash, somewhere close by. 'What's going on?' asked Neville shrilly, gathering his blankets around him.
'Don't know,' Harry said darkly. 'But I'm going to find out.' Knowing, inexplicably, that this was an important morning, he dressed rapidly and pulled his Invisibility Cloak over his robes. Voices could be heard from the passage. Deaf to his friends' protests, he left the dormitory.
The corridor was bustling with teachers, circling around something. Harry couldn't see through, until a gap appeared and Dumbledore and McGonagall appeared. Between them was held a black-clad, struggling figure. It was a Death Eater. Harry followed as they marched away.
They were going to Dumbledore's office. Harry recognised the route. He had to slip quickly through the doorway in the wall after the teachers, and set foot on the staircase uncomfortably close behind them as it began to revolve.
As they entered the vast room, Harry looked at the Death Eater, still held tightly by Dumbledore. He was reaching inside his cloak – reaching for his wand! Harry couldn't let it happen. He stepped forward, his own wand drawn – but Dumbledore was as quick as any Death Eater, and cried 'Expelliarmus!' The wand came into full view and floated over to McGonagall. She pocketed it.
'So,' said Dumbledore quietly, as though nothing had happened. 'Voldemort has sent his men inside Hogwarts. Are there more of you?'
The Death Eater said nothing. Dumbledore reached forward and removed the mask, revealing a familiar arrogant face. It was Lucius Malfoy.
'Lucius Malfoy, too cowardly to even address me?' Dumbledore's voice shook with a kind of hate that Harry had never known the headmaster to possess. 'Where are the rest of your kind?'
'In the Forbidden Forest,' said Lucius Malfoy, his own voice trembling, but not with any respectable emotion. He was simply scared. 'My lord sent me in first.'
'No doubt he was too cautious to go in himself,' Dumbledore said with contempt. 'Instead he sends in a servant to make sure he will be safe. He would sacrifice any one of you to save himself, do you not see that?'
Lucius Malfoy said nothing.
'I will see to it that you are sent straight to Azkaban,' said Dumbledore calmly. Producing his own wand, he bound the Death Eater with thin gold ropes and let him fall to the ground. Then, to Professor McGonagall, 'Minerva, you may go. Keep the wand safe.'
She left, and too late Harry realised that he was trapped. He could not leave until either Dumbledore left or someone else arrived. Then, suddenly, Dumbledore spoke again. 'Harry. Show yourself.'
Reluctantly and fearfully, Harry let the Invisibility Cloak slide to the ground. It obscured his feet, and made him appear to be floating. 'How did you know I was here?'
'You could say I can see things which others cannot.' Dumbledore was not smiling. In fact he looked very severe. 'I am disappointed in you. This is a dangerous situation, and not really anything to do with you.'
'I'm sorry, Professor. I just – I don't know, I got the feeling something was really wrong. I don't know what made me follow you – I was just being nosy, I suppose.'
'Curiosity, as you well know, killed the proverbial cat. It could kill you, too, if you are not careful. These are immensely dangerous days. Harry, I am worried for your safety, and not without good reason. You are old enough to understand the extent of Voldemort's evil. He will go to any lengths to take vengeance upon you. And while we are somewhat prepared for his attack, we can never fully know what he plans to do.'
'But – doesn't Snape tell you things like that?' The moment he had said it, Harry knew that it was a mistake. He looked frantically at Lucius Malfoy, lying immobile on the floor. The Death Eater's eyes were gleaming maliciously.
Dumbledore looked anxious, and followed Harry's gaze to the ground. 'Harry, that is precisely what I mean. You simply cannot go blurting things like that around the castle. Go now, put the Cloak back on – you do not need to see any more.'
Harry obeyed. He didn't know what was going to happen. Surely there was no way that Malfoy could get the information to Voldemort now – but what if he did? Snape could be in very big trouble, and it would be all his fault. He'd never liked Snape – but nevertheless, the Potions teacher was playing a very large role in the fight against Voldemort, at risk to himself. And Voldemort was so unforgiving… Harry didn't want to think about what would happen to Snape if Voldemort found out he was a spy.
Dumbledore wrote a message as soon as Harry had closed the door behind him.
Cornelius Fudge,
We have caught an active Death Eater, Lucius Malfoy. Please be at Hogwarts as soon as you can. He is secure, but we must discuss his imprisonment in Azkaban and make sure he has no visitors. He has some information which must on no account reach Voldemort. Whether or not you have decided to believe that the Dark Lord has returned, Death Eaters must be punished at all costs and I think you will agree with me on this matter.
Sincerely,
Albus Dumbldore.
Cornelius Fudge received the letter reasonably quickly, and within three days Lucius Malfoy became a permanent resident of Azkaban. There was no trial – Cornelius Fudge believed in the harshest punishments for Death Eaters.
Harry, of course, heard about Lucius Malfoy's imprisonment. Not only was the whole of Gryffindor house talking about it, and the circumstances under which it had come about, but Draco Malfoy was looking very different from usual – more withdrawn, entirely less cocky. This only served to be proof enough for those who were still speculating that this was a rumour.
Harry, Ron, Hermione and Andromeda were keeping quiet about the Yule Ball's happenings – pretty much pretending it hadn't happened. They were avoiding the issue, and if anyone mentioned it, all four became extremely uncomfortable. But now they didn't have to search for topics of conversation. One had presented itself rather helpfully.
'Got what he deserved,' spat Ron. 'If you ask me, if anyone deserves the Dementors it's a Death Eater.'
'I don't think anyone really deserves the Dementors,' said Harry quietly, thinking of what had replayed in his head whenever one of those foul creatures approached him. 'Well, except maybe Voldemort.' Ron flinched.
'I think Lucius Malfoy did,' said Hermione vehemently. 'He was one of the worst ones. Bigoted old…' she stopped, unable to think of anything strong enough to describe what she thought of him.
'I agree with Harry,' said Andromeda. 'Even though I've never had an encounter with a Dementor – well, I've heard about them… about what they do… if any creature was in league with You-Know-Who it'd be them.'
Meanwhile, a long way away, on a cold and rocky island, a cloaked man set foot inside Azkaban. His face was hidden by the hood of his robes, but he was small and hunched. Gloved hands swinging in a frighteningly cheerful manner, he passed the Dementors without a word. They did nothing. They knew why he was here.
He came across no other free human as he passed the small stone cells, barred across like animal cages. There was not a lot of security – it wasn't needed. The Dementors made sure that no one cared about escaping. Eventually he reached his destination – a four-legged wooden stool had been placed outside one of the little rooms. He sat down calmly and removed his hood.
The man inside the cell gasped. What was he doing here? How had he got in?
'I have come to see you, Malfoy,' said Peter Pettigrew. 'I want you to tell me exactly what happened when you tried to enter Hogwarts.'
'Don't know… can't remember…' said Lucius Malfoy. 'It was dark.. someone holding a candle… will you let me out of here?'
'I'll let you out,' said Pettigrew, smiling, 'but first, tell me how they knew we were attacking.'
'A spy… a spy for Dumbledore…'
'A spy? Who?'
'I'm cold,' said Lucius Malfoy dully. 'Snape… Severus Snape. Have you got any food?'
'Severus Snape is the spy?'
Lucius Malfoy made a horrible groaning sound and collapsed onto the hard ground with a thud. Then he sat up again, swaying slightly. 'Yes… Snape. Will you let me out now?'
But a pair of Dementors were sweeping towards them. Lucius Malfoy clutched his head, moaning again. 'Sorry,' said Pettigrew, shrugging. 'My time's up.'
Lucius Malfoy struggled on the stone floor against something that only he could see. The Dementors were satisfied. They glided away from the prisoner, who suddenly lay still, grey-faced and empty-minded.